Speaker
Dr
Viviane Pierrard
(Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy)
Description
The Energetic Particle Telescope (EPT) is a new compact and modular ionizing particle spectrometer that was launched on 7 May 2013 to a LEO polar orbit at an altitude of 820 km onboard the ESA satellite PROBA-V. First results show electron, proton and helium ion fluxes in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA) and at high latitudes, with high flux increases during SEP (Solar Energetic Particles) events and geomagnetic storms. Especially, on March 17, 2015, a big geomagnetic storm event injected unusual fluxes up to low radial distances in the radiation belts. EPT electron measurements show a deep dropout at L>4 starting during the main phase of the storm, associated to the penetration of high energy fluxes at L value lower than 2, filling completely the slot region. After 10 days, the formation of a new slot around L=2.8 separates the outer belt from the inner belt extending at other longitudes than the South Atlantic Anomaly. Two other major events appeared in January and June 2015, again with injection of electrons in the inner belt. These observations open many perspectives to better understand the source and loss mechanisms associated to the Van Allen belts.
Author
Dr
Viviane Pierrard
(Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy)
